“Let’s set up some fishing nets… we’ll just improvise.”
“Alright.”
They worked on a shambled net, some plastic bottles fixed to the sides. Gabe found a couple of large rocks they carried in the water, and they somehow put that net in to the water.
Gabe wiped his forehead, that gash becoming crusted over. “Let’s bathe… I forgot somehow…”
“You’re right.”
Going to the sand to strip, but they made sure to leave their clothes on a rock. Not taking their boxers off, walking a bit further from the other. Plunging in that warm sea, that lush water caressing their skin.
“Feels good!” Gabe crept closer, raking his hair to get the sand and grime out. “All we would need is some shampoo, soap…”
“Yeah…”
Gabe’s eyes drifted further to the edge of the beach, to some black rocks. “We should explore there… look… further to that side.”
Damian looked towards the left, the far side of the beach ending in jagged rocks. “Sure…”
Gabe got all excited, gesturing him out. “Come. I watched these docs on YouTube, about tide pools and stuff. If those rocks are what I think they are, we might be lucky.”
“Well, thanks to watching those shits, we might be saved.”
“I wanted to escape a bit. No shame there. I dreamt of going to one of those places…” He stopped, a bit puzzled that his dream had come true, somewhat…
“Glorious.”
“Well, yes, not all of us have the privilege of spending their holidays in luxury resorts in the Caribbean.”
“Spot on.”
Gabe pursed his lips. “What a cliché life. Private jet?”
Damian wiggled his eyebrows. “That. And I built that resort. On a coral reef.”
Watching Gabe blanch. “What?”
He burst out laughing. “Oh, you should see your eco ass face. You, of all things… flying millions of miles in a polluting tube as a glorified waiter.”
Gabe couldn’t speak, that sentence knocking his breath out a bit.Glorified waiter…Damian slammed his shoulder. “I didn’t build it on a coral reef. Just wanted you to know before you faint right here.”
Gabe swatted his hand away. “Fuck you! And I’m not a glorified waiter! I loved my job! And I saved your life so far! With my useless glorified waiter skills and shit videos I watched!”
Damian’s lips curled up. “What life?” He didn’t wait for an answer, and went ahead, picking up his foraging bag.
Gabe followed him, having no other choice, watching as he limped, the left arm tied to his chest with some rope digging into his shoulder. He didn’t bother with his shirt, letting the sun burn him red, and he had to rush a bit to catch up with him. Still not wanting to get close, to avoid talking.Asshole. Asshole. Asshole.A silent mantra, his eyes piercing that back burnt red. Climbing on the rocks, just to face a vast expanse of them, shallow pools glistening in the sun, filled with promises.
His eyes widened with his hammering heart. “Look! Moss! And sea weed!”
“Yeah? So?”
Gabe hurried, trudging through the pools and shallow water. “We can eat those. Loads of them, look!” He cut a good fistful off and sniffed it, then offered it to Damian, who had caught up, dubious. “Here, taste it.”
“What if it’s poisonous?”
“These are not… usually…” But his smile died. Feeling that sea weed being swept out of his hand. “Hey! Don’t…”
Too late. Damian had put it in his mouth, chewing hard. “Mhm…” Swallowing, facing Gabe’s wide eyes. “Chewy… but it should do.”
